Brodiaea minor
A monocot in the Asparagaceae family, this cormous perennial up to 30 cm tall with narrow strap-shaped basal leaves forms an erect inflorescence up to 10 cm tall bearing urn-shaped light purple flowers with 1–2 cm spreading tepals and is endemic to central California's Central Valley grasslands and nearby Sierra Nevada foothills.
Common Names
Dwarf Brodiaea, Small Brodiaea, Sierra Brodiaea, Vernalpool Brodiaea
Summary
Endemic to central California, the dwarf brodiaea is a bulbous perennial with an erect inflorescence up to 10 cm tall. It grows in grasslands of the Central Valley and adjacent Sierra Nevada foothills and features light purple, urn-shaped flowers with 1–2 cm long tepals, centered on three fertile stamens and three prominent sterile staminodes.
Flowering occurs in spring (April to early May) at elevations from 0 to 500 m. The species is native to central California and forms in grassland habitats as a bulbous perennial; conservation status is Least Concern.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-10 inches
Spread
4-20 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Gravelly clay soils, light, sandy, fertile soil (well-drained), serpentine soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Tolerates all pH levels
Bloom Color
Blue to purple (pale bluish to lilac)
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Blue Purple
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Stable
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Division
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- S.Watson
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 45: 236 (1870)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Brodiaea
Synonyms
Brodiaea grandiflora var. minor Brodiaea minor var. minor Hookera minor Hookera minor var. multiflora Hookera purdyi Brodiaea purdyi